The chilling voice came from a man with the tattoo of a skull on his neck along with the word "Bloodhound" written over it.
Tattooed on the man's left forearm placed around the shoulders of the provocatively dressed woman at his side was the image of a ferocious dog and the words "Mad Dogs".
This man was the leader of the group causing mayhem inside the orphanage and was feared by local gangs. Those who knew of him did not know his real name and simply started referring to him as Bloodhound due to the methods he used to deal with his enemies.
The woman at the front of the group of children did not entertain a response as she continued to comfort them. She knew that showing any form of weakness or fear before a person like Bloodhound would only serve as a stimulus. However, she was uncertain whether or not it was possible to prevent that point from being reached with someone like Bloodhound.
"…Big Sis Qiao Xiaoqing, are they going to hurt us…?" One of the children uttered with a trembling voice as she and the other children all had their eyes set on the woman at the group's front.
"No. As long as you remember what I have told you, everything will be over soon." The woman called Qiao Xiaoqing replied in a low voice to avoid Bloodhound's eavesdropping.
"Is this the price I must pay for going against myself?" Qiao Xiaoqing internalized.
In truth, she did not care what happened to her since she was prepared to accept the potential consequences. However, Qiao Xiaoqing would never forgive herself if any of those under her care were harmed as a result of her choice.
"Hey~ How much longer do we have to stay in this dump~?" The woman next to Bloodhound said seductively as she moved closer to him.
"Shut up. The real show ain't even start yet." Bloodhound grinned.
He then stood to his feet and shouted, "Who's up for a game, boys?!"
"The boss is startin' his game? Heh, I've been looking forward to this."
"Yeah! Let's do it, boss! No one knows games like you!"
"Bwahaha looks like the real fun is about to start!"
Several members of the Mad Dogs gathered around Bloodhound with gleeful and amused expressions.
"Let's see… Since our host is supposed to be some sort of genius, we'll play a game that suits her talents—a game where she can never answer wrong. Ya know, to show off her smarts and everything." Bloodhound stated as he stepped towards the corner where Qiao Xiaoqing and the others were situated.
The children shivered as they instinctively tried to back away. But, with a wall at their backs, there was nowhere to go.
Qiao Xiaoqing held her arm out in front of the group as her indifferent gaze met with Bloodhound's.
"Oh? That's a damn good look you have right now." Bloodhound said as he stopped before Qiao Xiaoqing.
"Relax, we're just gonna play a little game. If you win, I might even think about lettin' you off easy. But, if you don't want to play, then…" Bloodhound set his sights on one of the young children behind Qiao Xiaoqing with a vile gaze.
"Very well. I will play your game." Qiao Xiaoqing replied without hesitation.
After seeing the look in Bloodhound's eyes, Qiao Xiaoqing knew that the moment she refused his request, he would turn to more forceful methods to gain her compliance.
"It looks like you really are a genius. Though if I'm totally honest with ya-"
Bloodhound leaned forward and whispered into Qiao Xiaoqing's ear, "I was really hopin' you'd try to fight back."
Qiao Xiaoqing remained unmoved as her eyes turned cold.
Bloodhound took a step back and held his hand out towards one of his subordinates.
"The game we're gonna play is simple. I ask you a question, and you answer—that's all. See? Simple, isn't it?" Bloodhound smirked as his subordinate handed him a switchblade.
He then continued, "But, as you know, it's not a real game without rewards. Let's see… Ah, I got it. How about for every question you get right, I let one of those brats go? See that? Aren't I just filled with generosity, boys?"
"Boss, there ain't no one as generous as you are!"
"That's right, that's right! Who'd dare claim to be as generous as our boss?! Hahaha!"
The room filled with laughter from the members of the Mad Dogs. However, the instant Bloodhound held his hand up, the laughter immediately died down.
"But, should you refuse to answer my question… It won't be you who pays the price, but rather those brats you're so desperately protecting."
"Now, let's start. First question-" Bloodhound pressed the button on the switchblade in his hand as a sharpened edge emerged. He then held the blade up to Qiao Xiaoqing's face and laid it flat against her left cheek.
This action caused the children to release a frightened cry.
"Damn brats, so noisy. Hey, haven't ya been teaching them proper manners? Ya know, like when someone important's talkin', they shouldn't make a sound. So? What do you think? Should I teach them some manners in your place?" Bloodhound narrowed his eyes with an irritated look on his face from being interrupted by the children's sudden cry.
"That will not be necessary! Y-Your game—I am eager to participate…" Qiao Xiaoqing said in a shaken voice with a fearful look in her eyes.
When Bloodhound witnessed this, he returned his attention to Qiao Xiaoqing. He could not keep a large grin from forming on his face. This moment… It was this moment that he lived for! There was nothing more exhilarating than the fear in someone's eyes when they finally realized their situation. This was even more so for the cold types like Qiao Xiaoqing, who in his eyes only pretended to be brave for the sake of others.
The realization that their fate was no longer in their hands but held in his palm—how could he not find it thrilling?!
"This is troublesome…" Qiao Xiaoqing thought to herself as she observed the change in Bloodhound's behavior.
Now that Bloodhound had gotten what he wanted, his actions may grow increasingly bold to invoke a better response every time; therefore, Qiao Xiaoqing knew that there was only one way for it to end.
Bloodhound would eventually become bored, and in order to get one last big reaction from her, he would use the children as a means of doing so!
At this point, all Qiao Xiaoqing could do was delay the inevitable. She could only hope, however unlikely it may be, that Bloodhound would keep his word when it came to releasing one of the kids every time she answered a question correctly.
"Since I'm in a good mood, we'll start off with an easy question," Bloodhound said as he leered at Qiao Xiaoqing.
"First question… Which part of your face am I going to cut first with this blade? Your left cheek, or… perhaps, your right one? You have five seconds to answer."
Qiao Xiaoqing inwardly frowned; however, she did not have time to think as she heard Bloodhound's voice call out the remaining time.
"Two seconds."
"My left cheek." Qiao Xiaoqing answered.
"Correct! Congrats, ya scored one point." Bloodhound stated with a grin.
The next moment, he slowly dragged the edge of the switchblade downward across Qiao Xiaoqing's left cheek as blood trickled down her face.
Qiao Xiaoqing closed her eyes as she clenched her teeth and tried to take her mind off the stinging pain on her face.
After he finished, Bloodhound lifted the switchblade to his tongue and licked some of the blood that dripped to the flat surface of the blade.
"Wow, they weren't lying! You really are a genius. Well, I'll be damned! Hahaha!" Bloodhound laughed.
"One of you take one of the brats outside. After all, I am nothing if not a man of my word." Bloodhound said as he cleaned the edge of the switchblade with a cloth.
"Let's go stinkin' brat! I don't wanna miss the rest of the fun!" One of the Mad Mogs stepped forward and f.o.r.c.i.b.l.y grabbed one of the younger children.
"Let me go! I don't want to go! Big sis! Big sis!" The child cried out and struggled as they were dragged away towards the front door.
Qiao Xiaoqing's heart dropped as she secretly clenched her fists and bit down hard on her lip to the point that it bled. However, she understood that it would only end up making the situation worse than it already was if she tried anything. Therefore, she could only continue to endure.
"That's it, that's the look. Don't worry; our game's just starting. I'll make sure to have enough fun for the both of us." Bloodhound stated as a look of excitement flashed through his eyes.
